Typewriter line scribing device



Jan. 10, 1950 i PQSTMA 2,494,056

TYPEWRITER LINE SCRIBING DEVICE I Filed July 25, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fran/4 Post/77a m, WW

Jan. 0, 1950 F. POSTMA TYPEWRITER LINE SCRIBING DEVICE I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1947 Frank Post/77a HIS Jan. 10, 1950 F. POSTMA TYPEWRITER LINE SCRIBING DEVICE.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 25 1947 Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED 2394,1356 rrrnwnrrsn nms SGRIBING DEVIfiE Frank PostmaJPaterSom-NWJ.

Application July- 23, 1947*;S-eriaFNOf762352 14, Claims (01.3197-413) This invention relates-to a line scribing-device incorporated in a typewriter, and to an improved:-

line scribing instrument and the mounting t-l:rere"-: for inthe above device.

The invention has'among its objects thespro vision of a simple, sturdy line scribing devieesin a typewriter, such device operating in conjunc tion with the tabulatinglsystem of the typewriter,

to produce lines such as'underscores, dashes-and the like, of predetermined length.

which may be readily added to existing typewriters or may be incorporated as an added' feature in new typewriters.

A further object of the invention resides :in the no The invention has as a further objectthe provision of a device of'the indicatedcharacter' provision of such line scribing device-which insures a predetermined pressure between the scribing instrument and the paper onthe platen before the typewriter carriage is traversed, thus'making certain the production of a uniform line.

A still further object of the inventionlies inthe provision of such line scribing device "ina typewriter which allows lines to be drawn when the typewriter carriage is in either lower case'- or capital position without requiring shifting of the carriage.

Yet another object. of theinvention istheprovision of an improved line, scribing instrue' ment, and a mounting therefor, for use in-the line scribing device, the instrument being-a self contained marking device, and the mounting-alof'the lineiscribingideviceand the tabulator key oflthetypewriter cooperating therewith;

Eigure fi isaan eniazrgediview in perspective of theyielda'bleconnection in the line scribing device actuatingi haven-and scribing device of the invention maybe incorporated Linanyinew typewriterv which is provided withaxtabulatorxkey, .aregardless of where the keyiis located or whetheror not the tabulator stops-maybesetiiromatheiront of theim'achine; It wiiliurther beeapparent that-the line scribing device may be addedto:-any existing typewriter equipped with ;a ;.tabulator key, either by employing the: key of aiiittleused character located lowing the ready removal and replacement'oflthe instrument from its supporting arm or.bar:in'the typewriter.

These and further objects of the invention be more readily apparent. from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of theJinvention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a view in plan of, atypewriter with theline scribing device of theinvention installed:

thereon;

Figure 2 is a view in section along theilone gitudinal .aXis of a line scribing instrument emplcyed in thedevice;

Figure 3 is a'somewhat'diagraimnatic viewzin. side elevation of the line scribingdevice attached to a typewriter, parts of the typewriter-being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary'view in perspective of the line scribing instrument attachingfend-of the mounting bar; 1

Figure 5 is a view inrperspectiveofftherrpartsi adjacent the :tabulatorlrkey, as here shown, such first key and. theaiinkage operated thereby being changed in-accordance with the invention, or

where: space, "permitsz byi' the 1 addition of a. line scribing:device operating' key adjacent the tab-' ulatorakey.

"The typewriter,-- -whichpis shown somewhat schematically, isiprovidedwith' a frame generally designated; .2, ta movable: carriage 1 3 carrying: a

platenfl equippedw withwthe hand-knobs 5, the:-

platerr bein'g rotated-fiend; the carriage traversed to-therightnby theeconventional shift lever 1.

1 Thef'type barsibyswhichr the typecharacters are presented toetheepiaten, are carried on a sector provided KW-1th an elongated pintle' 6. In the device asfishowmmneaof-the'type bars of a little used characterrztheaikey 10f which; lies near the tabulator key; has beenkremoved and replaced by the modified:-har:=?8wwhich -;is' identical, but for its upper end carrying in this instance two scrib ing, instrume'ntswithnthetype bar which was removed. ,Ihe-sectonandvtype'barslie, as'is well known, benea'th the-. -noise damping cover or hood" 9.

Levenrd-hasadowerr angularly related end Hi below the ;:pint1e:- 6, such lower end being connectedbymieansmtthelink M to theupperend of thez-uprightaleverlJ2. Lever 12, which is one platen. In the typewriter in 'fwhichzthe device is shown incorporated byway of example, motion" is transmitted from lever I8 through the link stationary pintle 24, the outer end ;of.lever= 22;,

being connected to lever I! at approximately the nism thus far described fromthe lever l8 tothe;

bar 8 is the conventional type bar operating mechanism of the described typewriter, by'wliich l a type bar is presented .to the platen, the ribbon raising and carriage indexing mechanism beingdisconnected from such particular bar operating linkage, however, so that operation of the line scriber carrying bar does not raise the ribbon or. move the carriage. The scriber is thus presented directly to the paper on the platen, and the carriage does not move except-byvirtue ofv the interlock with the tabulator mechanism.

The upper end 34 of thebar;8 is, as indicated, modified so as to carrytwo scribing-instruments and 32, the former being mounted :vertically below the latter. Such'enlarged upper end 34 of lever 8 shown more clearlyin Figuresi and-7, is provided with a passageway 51 extendinggenerally parallel to the lengthof the upper portion of the bar. Such'passageway is provided with the confronting longitudinal guide ribs 53 which fit within correspondingly shaped grooves in the removable slide member 35 to prevent withdrawal of such member from the end 34 of the bar 8 in a forward direction; Passageway 5|- is closed at the bottom bya shelf member 55 which provides a stop for-accurate location of the slide on the bar. It has been found that the slide is sufiiciently tightly held on the bar if;

guideway 5| is made slightly undersize, particularly at its forward end,- so that the forward side portions of part 34 resiliently press upon the slide. Slide 35 carries on its forward face the two threaded studs 38 each of which receives the forward portion 36 of the scribing-instrument shown in Figure 2. Portion 36 of the instrument, which is complete in itself, may thus readily be removed from the bar by beingunscrewed' from slide 35. Such portion consists of .a'lhollow shell having a cylindrical rear portion:38 internally threaded at 40 and a conical forward=-portion 42 which is provided at the apex thereof with the seat 44 having the configuration of aportion of a sphere within which is held the ballMi which fits such seat very accurately but with sufficient clearance for the passage of a film :of ink in paste form on the ball. Such ink is'held within the cavity 48 in communication with the-rear surface ofi'the ball, the cavity being closed'by the rear partition member 50 threaded into-the rear portion of part 38. f The two scribinginstrum'ent's 30 and 32 are provided so that the desired line may be scribed with the typewriter carriage in either lower case or capital position, without shifting the carriage. Thus, scribing instrument- 30 is employed when the carriage is in its lower case position, and instrument 32 is employed' whenthe:carriage is in its raised, capital position: *AlthoLiQ'h the two such scribing instruments have been described as producing a line located in the same position with respect to the characters, regardless of the carriage shift position, it will be apparent that by a suitable change of spacing between the scribing instruments and by a change of their spacing as a whole from pintle 6, such instrument may, for example, be employed to produce underscores and other desired lines in one positionof the carriage, and when the carriage is shifted, may be employed to form dashes. It will further be apparent that by reason of the mount- 'to the generally horizontal lever 22 pivoted on" 'ing of the scribing instruments both to be sepp arately removable from their mounting slide, and

1 5 to be removable as a pair from the bar with mid-point of the latter by link 28. The m'echa-'" such slide, various combinations of colors are making scribed lines since the instruments may be'replaced very quickly, either singly or in pairs.

"Operation of the lever portion l8, previously described, is effected by the line scribing key 58 which, as shown, is located in the vicinity of the tabulator key 56. The typewriter is, of course, provided with the customary keys for letters and other characters, some of which are shown at 52, and with the spacer bar 54. The tabulator key, which is attached to an operating lever having an upright portion 60, upon being pressed releases the carriage escapement mechanism and allows the carriage to travel to the left to a position determined by the next adjacent setting of the tabulator stop in the tabul-ator system, shown generally at 94. The line scribing device actuating means of the invention is so constructed and arranged that after a predetermined travel of the scribing instrument actuating mechanism, so that the-instrument is presented to the paper on the platen with a predetermined pressure, the tabulator key is operated to release the carriage. In the embodiment shown, such last described mechanism takes the form of an L-shaped mountinglever for the key 58 having the upright arm 64 and the horizontal arm 65, the latter arm being connected at its rear end to the forward end of the lever l8 by a yieldable connection 10. Such connection, which is shown more clearly in Figure 6, consists of the forward laterally off-set end 12 of lever l8, the headed pintle pin M projecting through such portion of lever l8 and the rear end of arm 66. The upper rear end of arm 66 is provided with a laterally projecting arm 8!] confronting which, and contacting which, when the parts 18 and 66 are generally in alignment, is the stop shoulder 18 on portion 12 of lever l8. Adjoining portions of lever l8 and arm 66 are provided with confronting upright extensions 82 and 84, respectively, between which extends the tension spring 85 which normally holds stops 18 and in contact with each other and is of sufficient strength to hold the parts in this relationship until lever H! has been depressed sufficiently to present the scribing instruments against paper on" the platen with a predetermined force.

' The lost-motion operating connection between the tabular system and the line scribing instrument operating mechanism is provided in this instance by the bent forwardly projecting dog member 62 mounted on the upright arm 60 of the tabulator key, and the dog '68 mounted on the arm 64 of the line scriber key. Dog 68 is positioned above dog 62 and in alignment therewith, so that upon predetermined travel of dog 68 downwardly it' contacts dog 62. The dogs are so spaced vertiforce :to rthexpaper on theplaten. Thereupon dog:

68 contacts dog 62' and :upon 'furthennnovement downwardly :of 'keys58' -the' \tabulatoreikey 56 is likewise: thrust'rdownwardly. Duringrsuch. furflier/1110131011501 key 58 the connection lu yields,

downwardly with respecttoslever l8=about pintle pin 14. After a relatively smallramount of such added travel: of key 58 depending-of course, upon the adjustmentof thetabulatoroperating mechanism, the carriage'is released. by travelof ta'bu '15" latorkey 56 and lever (it and travels to thefl'eft, thereby form-inga scribedlineon the :paper-of the length determined by the previously set next. adjacent tabulator :stop.

As has been indicated'above, the conventional w ribbon operating and carriage indexing-mechanism, associated with all the type-bars 'and'type keys in-the conventional typewriter, is not employed withthe line scribinginstrument supporting bar 8. Such ribbon and carriage operating mechanism, shown generally'in Figure 3, includes an elongated axle or pintle-88 mounted in sub "frame 89, and a depending lever 90 on pintle Bil-for eachcharacter; connection between each" such lever-- 90 and the corresponding linkage for each. character being effected by a means including spring 92. Such ribbon raising andcarriage indexing means are,-of course; retained for all characters to be printed-by the typewriter,

by-use or the ribbon, in the typewriter modified in accordance with the invention.

'I'have described andillustrated preferred embodiments-of-thelinescribing deviceincorporated in a typewriter and preferred embodiments-of the 40 line scribing'instrument and the mounting there-"' for in accordance with the invention. 1 It-is to" be understood, however, that the invention isnot restricted to such preferred embodimentspbut that'it iscapable of considerablevariation as to details within the teachings thereof. The invention is, therefore, defined by the scope of "the following claims.

T I claim as new the following:

' 1. In combinationwith a typewriter having a carriage, a platen thereon; and a tabulator'mech anism, a'line scribing device comprising-a line scribing instrument, an arm pivotallymounted on thetypewriter carrying the line scribing instrument for presentation to the platen, means for swinging the-arm to-move the line scribing in-" strument into operativeposition'confronting the platen, and means operative in response to further movement of the-last named means after the line scribing instrument'has reached such operative position to operate the tabulator mechanism.

-2. Incombinationwitha typewriter having a carriage; a platen thereon, and a tabulator mechanism, a line scribing .device comprising a linescribing instrument,-an arm pivotally'mountedk on the typewriter" carrying 'the'iline scribing instrument for presentation tothe platen, a; "line scribing deviceoperating. mechanism including means for swinging the arm tozmove the line fronting" the platen, and' lost motion meansrbetween the line scribingrdevice operating mechanism and. the tabulator mechanism operativ iin reached:suchooperative rpositlonr touoperaterrthe tabnlatonmeohanismmhereby tozsallow' athetzcarriage" tmmove: onlyz-afterthe v line-=scribing instrument sis in r operativeiposition.

3.: In combination witlriasrtypewritershavinga a type ban: segm'ent,a-1 a: carriage, ra'i' platen'. thereon,

a tabulatonmechanism; and azfirst tabulatorzkeyconnectedthereto for'operating suclmnefchanism,

;.linerscribingtrdevice; comprising aaiine scribing instrument, .2 an arm pivotally mounted 7: on the typewriter typerbar: segment carrying: the line's scribing trinstrmnent for -;presentation to the platemzaline:scribing .devicer operating mechanism including .a; second=key1ocated inzproximity to athe tabulator key,t:."m'eans l. connected to rthe secondilcey for swinging. the 1ine scribing "instrumerit-carrying arm'rto rmove such instrument'into operative :position conirontingithe :rplaten, and lost" motion means? between the second: and the. afirstskeyz: operative in: respons to *fnrther movement of the secondrkey; after SUBh SCTiDiHQ'I instrument has reached its operativef-positionj to" depress? the-tabulator key, and thus-to: operate the tabulatorz".mechanism= thereby towallow 'the carriage" to 'move. onlyaaitter the 'line scribing, instrument: is .in' operative position.

4.1 :In combination with r a typewriter havings a type r bar segment; av carriagega platen thereongra tabulatornmechanismg and a first f tabulatorukey" connected thereto for operating such mechanism; a line scribing? device' comprising a line scribing instrument, wan arm pivotally "mountedon "the typewriter type bar segment carrying "the line scribing instrument for presentation "to "the platen, a linet scribingfdevice oper'aiting -me'chanism including-a second key located I iniproximity to the tabulator kemizmeans connected to the secondzkey' for swir-iging' the line scribing instrument" carrying armto move thefinstrument into operati-ve positioncontronting "the platen; andlost motion mea'ns'. betwe'enthe-second and first-keys comprising a first horizontally projecting member on the first key-and a second horizontally 'projecting member onizhe second 'key; thesecond horizonttill'yprbjecting member being: positioned vertically above the' first -and so spaced that-"such second projectingmember contacts the first-only after such:scribinginstrument-has reached its operative =position,= continued movement of the second :key, -after such contact; depressing the tabulator? key" and thus oper-ating the tabulatormechanism, thereby torallow-the carriage to move only 1 after the line F scribing instrument is in operative position.

"5. ln combination with'-= a typewriter having-a typelbar segment; a: carriage, aplaten thereon; a tabulator mechanism; and a-fi-rst tabulator key connected thereto for operating suoh mechanism,

a line:scribing 'device comprising a line scribing instrumentI-an armv-pivotally' mounted onthe typewriter type bar segment carrying"*the linescribing instrumlent for" presentation to the-platen,. I a line'=--scribing-i= device': operatingmechanism including a second key *located' in proximity to the tabulatonkey, means connected to the second keyforswinging thedine scribing instrument carrying: ann to" move the instrument into-operative position-confronting the platen, and lost motion 'meansbetween"the second'and first keys oompr-isscribing instrument into operative pOSltlOl'LCOncm mgtalifirshhbfizontany projecting member onuthe.

membem-onth .rsec'ond -zrakem-fthe'secondhorizonv tiaJly-zprojeetingcmemberi: beinga positiond vertiresponseto iurtherlmovement of the lastinamed chilly:-abovetthifirst-anct so spaced thatsuch sec meansaafter the line scribing instrumentslaas E5"0ndsprojfectingzmembert-contacts -the"first-only" after such" scribing instrument" has reached its operative position, continued movement of the second key after such contact, depressing the tabulator key and thus'operating -the tabulator mechanism, thereby to allow the carriage to move only after the line scribing instrument is in operative position, the line scribing device operating mechanism including a spring-tensioned yieldable connection which allows such continued movement of the second key after the scribing. instrument has reached'its operative position.

6. In combination with a typewriter having a type bar segment, a carriage, a platen thereon, a tabulator mechanism, and a first tabulator key connected thereto for operating such mechanism, a line scribing device comprising a line scribing instrument, an arm pivotally mounted on the typewriter type bar segment carrying the line scribing instrument for presentation to the platen, a line scribing device operating mechanism including a second key located in proximity to thetabulator key, means'connected to the second key, includinga lever connected to such key for swinging the line scribing instrument carrying arm to move such instrument into operative position confronting the platen, and lost motion means between the second and first keys comprising a first horizontally projecting member on thefirst key and a second horizontally projecting member on the second key, the second horizontally projecting member being positioned vertically above the first and so spaced that such second projecting member contacts the first only after such scribing instrument has reached its operative position, continued movement of the second key, after such contact, depressing the tabulator key and thus operating the tabulator mechanism, thereby to allow the carriage to move only after the line scribing-instrument isin operative position, the lever connected to the second key including a spring-tensioned yieldable pivoted joint which allows such continued movement of the second key after the scribing instrument has reach its operative position.

7. In combination with a typewriter having a carriage, a platen thereon, and a tabulator mechanism, a line scribing device comprising a line scribing instrument, means mounted on the typewriter carrying the line scribing instrument selectively to present it to the platen, means'for operating such scribing instrument mounting means to move the line scribing instrument into operative position confronting the platen, and means operative in response to further movement of the last named means after the linescribing instrument has reached such operative position to operate the tabulator mechanism.

8. In combination with a typewriter having a platen, a line scribing device, comprising a line scribing instrument, and means comprising an arm on the outer end of which the instrument is connected mounted on the typewriter selectively to present the instrument to the platen, said instrument comprising a, container having a space therein for ink, a partially spherical seat in the forward end of the container communicating with such space, and a ball retained in the seat for rotation therein, whereby it deposits ink upon the surface of material which its outwardly exposed surface contacts, said line scribing instrument being detachably connected to the arm' for ready removal therefrom, said detachable connection including a guideway on the outer end of the arm,- a removable slide retained in said guideway, a-threaded stud onethe platen con-a fronting face of the slide, and an internally threaded sleeve cooperating with such stud on the rear end of the scribing instrument.

9. In combination with a typewriter having a type bar carrying segment, a carriage, a platen thereon, and means for shifting the type bars and platen vertically with respect to each other, a line scribing device comprising two spaced line scribing instruments, and means comprising an arm on the outer end of which the instruments are connected, selectively to present the instruments to the platen, the arm being mounted on the type bar segment, each of said scribing instruments comprising a container having a space therein for ink, a partially spherical seat in the forward end of the container communicating with such space, and a ball retained in the seat for rotation therein, whereby it deposits ink upon the surface of material which its outwardly exposed surface contacts, said line scribing instruments being so spaced on the arm that one of the scribing instruments is presented in operative position to the platen when the carriage and type bars are in lower case position relative to each other, and that the other of the scribing instruments is presented in operative position to the platen when the carriage and type bars are shifted to capital position with respect to each other.

10. In combination with a typewriter having a type bar carrying segment, a carriage, a platen thereon, and means for shifting the type bars and platen vertically with respect to each other, a line scribing device comprising two spaced line scribing instruments, and means comprising an arm on the outer. end of which the instruments are detachably connected, selectively to present the instruments to the platen, the arm being mounted on the type bar segment, each of said scribing instruments comprising a container having a space therein for ink, a partially spherical seat in the forward end of the container communicating with such space, and a ball retained in the seat for rotation therein, whereby it deposits ink upon the surface of material which its outwardly exposed surface contacts, said line scribing instruments being so spaced on the arm that one of the scribing instruments is presented in operative position to the platen when the carriage and type bars are in lower case position relative to each other, and that the other of the scribing instruments is presented in operative position to the platen when the carriage and type bars are shifted to capital position with respect to each other, said detachable connection including a guideway on the outer end of the arm, a removable slide retained in said guideway, and means on the platen confronting face of the slide attaching the scribing instruments thereto at the rear ends of such instruments.

11. In a typewriter having a carriage, a platen thereon, and a tabulator mechanism, the combination therewith of a line scribing device comprising a line scribing instrument, means mounted on the typewriter carrying the line scribing instrument selectively to present it to the platen,

means for operating such line scribing instru ment mounting means to move the line scribing instrument into operative position confronting the platen, said last named means comprising a first operating system connected to the scribing instrument mounting means, a second operating system serially connected to the first such system, the second such system including a line scribing instrument operating key, and a yieldable conmotion between the first and second operating systems whereby movement of the operating key and thus of the second operating system may be continued after the scribing instrument has reached its operative position, and means operative in response to further movement of the second operating system after the line scribing instrument has reached such operative position to operate the tabulator mechanism.

12. In a typewriter having a carriage, a platen thereon, and a tabulator mechanism, the combination therewith of a line scribing device comprising a, line scribing instrument, means mounted on the typewriter carrying the line scribing instrument selectively to present it to the platen, means for operating such line scribing instrument mounting means to move the line scribing instrument into operative position confronting the platen, said last named means comprising a first lever system connected to the scribing instrument mounting means, a second lever system serially connected to the first such lever system, the second such lever system including a line scribing instrument operating key, and ayieldable connection between the first and second lever system's whereby movement of the operating key and thus of the second lever system may be continued after the scribing instrument has reached its operative position, and means operative in response to further movement of the second lever system after the line scribing instrument has reached such operative position to operate the tabulator mechanism.

13. In a typewriter having a, carriage, a platen thereon, and a tabulator mechanism, the combination therewith of a line scribing device comprising a line scribing instrument, an arm pivotally mounted on the typewriter carrying the line scribing instrument for presentation to the platen, means for swinging the arm to move the line scribing instrument into operative position confronting the platen, said last named means comprising a first lever system connected to the line scribing instrument mounting arm, a second lever system serially connected to the first such lever system, the second such lever system including a. line scribing instrument operating key, and a yieldable connection between the first and second lever systems whereby movement of the operating key and thus of the second lever system may be continued after the scribing instrument has reached its operative position, and means operative in response to further movement of the second lever system after the line scribing instrument has reached such operative position to operate the tabulator mechanism.

14. In a typewriter having a carriage, a platen thereon, and a tabulator mechanism, the combination therewith of a line scribing device comprising a line scribing instrument, an arm pivotally mounted on the typewriter carrying the line scribing instrument for presentation to the platen, a line scribing device operating mechanism including means for swinging the arm to move the line scribing instrument into operative position confronting the platen, said last named means comprising a first lever system connected to the line scribing instrument mounting arm, a second lever system serially connected to the first such lever system, the second such lever system including a, line scribing instrument operating key, and

a yieldable connection between the first and second lever systems whereby movement of the operating key and thus of the second lever system may be continued after the line scribing instrument has reached its operative position, and lost motion means between the second lever system of the scribing device operating mechanism and the tabulator mechanism operative in response to further movement of the second lever system after the line scribing instrument has reached its operative position to operate the tabulator mechanism, thereby to allow the carriage to move only after the line scribing instrument is in operative position.

FRANK POSTMA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 950,543 Schneeloch Mar. 1, 1910 1,041,491 Lam'arque Oct. 15, 1912 1,917,727 McGlennon July 11, 1933 2,427,033 Wahl Sept. 9, 1947 

